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The Rolling Stones - Satisfaction - Guitar Lesson

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Key E major
The Rolling Stones - Satisfaction guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

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Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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The Rolling Stones Blues Rock E major
Capo Advisor 0 E major · Original key

About Satisfaction

Few riffs in Blues Rock are more immediately recognisable than the fuzz-tone guitar figure that opens "Satisfaction." Keith Richards played it through a Gibson Maestro Fuzzbox, and nailing that buzzy, compressed tone is half the battle before you even think about fingering. The riff itself sits in E major and is not technically demanding at slow speed, but at 125 BPM it needs to feel locked-in and relaxed rather than rushed. The groove lives slightly behind the beat, so resist the urge to push. The Rolling Stones track is in Eb Standard tuning, meaning every string comes down half a step, so check your tuning before you wonder why nothing sits right against the recording. New players often stumble on the transition from the riff into the chorus chords, so use the Practice Toolbar to loop that section slowed down until the shift feels automatic. Getting the swagger of the feel right matters as much as the notes.

  • The signature riff runs through a fuzz pedal tone, so dialling in a fuzz or overdrive with strong mid-range compression is essential for matching the original sound.
  • The song is in Eb Standard tuning, so tune every string down a half step before playing along with the recording.
  • The riff is beginner-friendly at slow tempos, but keeping it loose and slightly behind the beat at 125 BPM is the real challenge to practise.

How to Play Satisfaction

Tuning: Eb Standard · Key: E major · Tempo: 125 BPM

It is played in Eb standard, a half step down, so tune down before you start or every position and bend will sit a half step sharp against the recording.

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 125 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Ronnie Wood relies on the Strat's versatile single-coil tone for bright, cutting leads that complement Keith's darker textures. The guitar's natural snap cuts through the Stones' dense arrangements without losing warmth.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Keith Richards' modified butterscotch Telecaster, fitted with a Gibson PAF humbucker, delivers the fatter, warmer attack that defines his rhythm work while maintaining the instrument's natural twang and cutting presence.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

This guitar anchors iconic Stones tracks like 'Sympathy for the Devil' and 'Gimme Shelter,' providing the thick, sustained tone and natural breakup Keith needs for his open-tuning chord work.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

While not specifically mentioned in Keith's primary rig, the Custom's thicker body and hardware enhance sustain and warmth, making it an alternative for achieving the deeper, more compressed tones the Stones occasionally pursue.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

Keith's preferred amp, the Twin Reverb's headroom and natural breakup create that sweet spot where tubes work hard without full distortion, perfectly complementing his open-tuning dynamics and pick attack sensitivity.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amp

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

For live shows requiring more gain and punch, this amp provides the boosted output the Stones need while maintaining the moderate tube breakup that's central to Keith's tone philosophy.

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